Reference Person Dose-Area Product and Organ Dose-Area Product Estimates During Pelvis Radiography in Some Selected Centres in Lagos Conurbation, Nigeria

Abstract

Background: In diagnostic radiology, focus on patient’s dose measurement has been on the estimation of entrance skin surface dose and its equivalent risk assessor (effective and organ doses). So, this study identified DAP’s as capable of performing same function as ESD in patient dose monitoring. Thus, reported estimates on dose area product (DAP) and the equivalent risk to organ’s exposed in adult patients during pelvis examination in Lagos State, Nigeria. Patients and Methods: Gender percentage ratio of 39.4 and 60.4 for male and female respectively, from six selected centres, exposed for both pelvis AP and LAT of the procedures were monitored using mathematical approach and dose Cal version 2.31 software, designed to monitor organ’s dose and DAP. Results: The average DAP and it equivalent organ dose area product (ODAP) values recorded from a population of 278 adult patients studied were found to be within expected limits for a reference adult person. Though, DAP for pelvis AP was found almost twice that recorded for the pelvis LAT. High and low organ DAP recorded for both gender from urinary bladder and lungs respectively for pelvis AP whilst these were pelvis bone and lungs for male and ovaries and lungs for female from pelvis LAT respectively. High values were equally recorded for the reproductive organs (Testicles and Ovaries) during pelvis AP. Conclusion: This study therefore suggest that better understanding of organ anatomical position in relation to specific examination will better promote as low as reasonable practicable.